FG wades into visa crises, directs NAHCON to resolve 2025 Hajj issues

The Federal Government has stepped into the visas crises with Saudi Arabia service providers, to ensure smooth Hajj operations in 2025.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, at a meeting with officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), directed the body to take all necessary measures to ensure a smooth and unhindered pilgrimage for all the nation’s intending pilgrims.

Shettima who assured Nigerians, particularly the Muslim community that no Nigerian intending pilgrim would miss the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, added that the exercise would be hitch free.

This was the outcome of a meeting the Vice President held with the Management and Board of the Commission in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

The Vice president had summoned the meeting following reports that a contractual dispute with Saudi service provider, Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah, could potentially lead to visa denials for Nigerian pilgrims.

“We will not allow any Nigerian intending pilgrim to miss the 2025 Hajj. The pilgrimage will be seamless, and every challenge will be addressed promptly,” VP Shettima assured.

The Vice President at the meeting issued firm instructions to the NAHCON leadership, urging them to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of Nigerian pilgrims, saying “NAHCON must do whatever it takes to guarantee the full participation of our pilgrims without any hindrance. From now on we must have to set the right standards, move in the right direction and have a hitch-free hajj exercise.”

Addressing concerns about the purported contract cancellation with the Saudi-based company, Saleh Usman, the NAHCON Chairman, however, promised that the issue would not affect the pilgrimage. “There is no cause for alarm. No single registered pilgrim will be left behind,” Usman declared.

He also dismissed allegations from the Forum of States Pilgrim Welfare Agencies that the dispute could derail the pilgrimage.